Hi everyone. Just checking in with you today on the fitness front. I wanted to share a couple of updates first and then move on to how to save big when you’re hitting the gym.
- Drum roll please . . . since starting “Buff on a Budget,” I decreased my BMI by 1 royal point and have shed 5 royal pounds (probably holiday weight?). Wootothefreakinhoo. 🙂 Yay. To me, it’s not about the numbers but feeling well and confident. However, it certainly doesn’t hurt to see some evidence to feeling well.
- Last week’s DVD a Day Challenge fell a little flat. I did do a fitness DVD for 3 of the 7 days. NOW, lest you think I wimped or chickened out, in the evenings instead of a DVD, I’ve been stepping with the King the last couple of nights. He’s been using the Wii Balance board and I’ve been using an 8″ FIRM step. Together, we’ve been doing the “Free Step” on the Wii for at least 30 minutes while watching tv at the fastest pace available. I’ll try to review the DVDs I did do on another “Buff on a Budget” post. Let’s just say one was comical, one was awesome, one was insane. I also did at least 30 minutes on the Wii Fit everyday but one last week.
I’ve run across the following tip in several places lately and feel like I HAVE to mention it to you. Lady Jenny on the Queen of Free Facebook page was the first to bring to my attention that several YMCAs and YWCAs have sliding scales dependent upon household income. So your membership rate is determined by how much you make. For the Y closest to us, it means that if you make less than $55K/year combined household income, you get a break on the rates. This might be a great option for you if you (like me) LOVE a good group exercise class.
Churches (there are 2 or 3 in our area) oftentimes have gyms or fitness centers of their own with very competitive prices. You can also check into your local community center (although in the long run if I took as many classes I’d want to take, a gym would be cheaper per month for us). Arguments can be made (depending on your area; I’m sure everyone in my area is FABU, muwah!) for or against the quality and availability of equipment, facilities, and instructors for classes at such fitness centers. Just don’t assume you have to go to a certain church to have access to the facilities. Call and ask!
Bottom line, if you’re bound and determined to have a membership somewhere, be sure to take a good look at all of your options. If you do end up at a big chain facility, be sure to wheel and deal. Don’t accept the first offer they give you. Don’t be afraid to show them the offers you’ve received from other gyms. Don’t be afraid to call the national 1-800 number and go over the local location’s “heads” to get a better offer. And don’t be afraid to throw out a crazy LOW number. They just might bite.
Sliding scales just might make your scales slide, too. 🙂 Have a great week getting fit!
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